Category

Financing

The financing channel looks at the different small business funding options available to start-up companies and established SME businesses looking to grow. Read a wealth of guides and tips to help manage your accounts and cash flow better, views on the future of business banking and where to source alternative finance.

Government grants

How and where can I get information on government grants?

Government Grants

Government Grants

Info on government grants

Where can I get information on government grants to help me and my small business?

Accounting

Keep your business on track

More and more people are escaping the daily nine to five grind and starting up their own business. Yet business owners should not become complacent once they have overcome the initial start up hurdles but should keep track of company performance. Here's how.

Tax

The tax return clinic

SmallBusiness.co.uk and Andy Hardy from TaxCalc.com demystify the tax returns process and offer top tips on how you can ensure that you don't get caught out by the taxman or pay unnecessary fines.

Accounting

Starting a bookkeeping business

I am an accountancy student (AAT qualified) and I wish to start my own bookkeeping business for sole traders and partnerships. What should my first steps be and are there any rules/laws that may restrict the work I take on? Also, how do I calculate how much to charge?

Small Business Banking

Why should I use a business bank account?

My wife and I want to start a boarding kennels business. There are a wide range of business bank accounts available but why use one when all it seems to do is cost money. Why won't an ordinary account do?

Alternative finance

Factoring: Get your funding to work harder

More and more owner-managers are recognising that significant time savings can be made if they outsource this element of their operations to factoring specialists, says Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance.

Accounting

Offsetting a loss against future profits

QUESTION: Having started a business as a self-employed driving instructor and made a loss in the first year, can this loss be offset against future profits?

Alternative finance

Factoring: Get your funding to work harder

More and more owner-managers are recognising that significant time savings can be made if they outsource this element of their operations to factoring specialists, says Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance.

Accounting

Offsetting a loss against future profits

QUESTION: Having started a business as a self-employed driving instructor and made a loss in the first year, can this loss be offset against future profits?

Accounting

Raising invoices under a trading name

When a company trades as a different name to their legal name (e.g. Fred Bloggs Paving Ltd. t/a Crazy Paving). Is it legal to raise invoices using their trading name only?

Accounting

Accounts packages

I buy and sell cars and I am using the SAGE accounts system, however I am struggling with putting on credit notes and working out the VAT I will have to pay back.

Alternative finance

Angel funding tips from the Den

If your original source of funding dries up or you fail to convince the bank manager, does that mean you should call it a day?

Accounting

Employer PAYE returns: common errors

The deadline for filing your Employer PAYE end-of-year returns is mid-May. To make sure you get the best out of online filing, SmallBusiness.co.uk and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have put together this list of common errors to help you avoid making the same mistakes.

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Business Technology

Friendly guide – top tips for small businesses switching to VoIP

With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!

Export & Import

Avoid delays with exports and imports

Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world